Saudi-led coalition says it intercepts missiles, drones over Riyadh, other areas

RIYADH: The Saudi-led coalition reported on Friday that it had successfully intercepted and destroyed multiple missiles and drones over Riyadh, as well as two cruise missiles over the Red Sea. This comes amid sustained attacks from Iran-backed Houthis, who have targeted Saudi interests in recent months. The coalition spokesman, Turki al-Malki, provided updates on the intercepted projectiles, stating that three drones were destroyed in the southern area and Riyadh, while two cruise missiles were taken down over the Red Sea.

The coalition has been battling the Houthis on behalf of the internationally recognized Yemeni government for over a decade. Since the civil war reignited in July, the Houthis have launched numerous strikes on Saudi targets, including oil facilities, Red Sea tankers, and the international airport in Riyadh, resulting in the deaths of 13 people last week.

The pressure on Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, is heightened as global energy markets experience instability following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the broader Middle East conflict in February. The Houthis' recent offensive in Yemen, which began in September, has resulted in the seizure of strategic territory along the Red Sea coast, a critical chokepoint for global shipping.

The UN Security Council recently condemned the Houthis' persistent and escalating attacks against Saudi Arabia, as well as their threats towards commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern gateway to the Suez Canal. The council also denounced the group's reckless strikes on Riyadh's airport, which has been targeted at least 20 times this month.

The Yemeni government, backed by Saudi air support, has launched a counteroffensive to reclaim the territory seized by the Houthis, but has yet to fully reverse their gains. On Thursday, the Houthis carried out a deadly missile attack on the presidential palace in Aden, killing five people and injuring 16, according to the health minister.

Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani condemned the "cowardly" act, describing it as a continuation of the Houthis' criminal pattern. A government minister, speaking anonymously, revealed that Zindani was present during the attack but remained unharmed. The Houthis targeted the command center for Yemeni government forces at Al-Maashiq Palace in Aden, along with weapons depots belonging to both Yemeni and Saudi coalition forces.